School Principal Under Fire For Blasting Kaepernick After Nike Ad

Seal Beach, CA – A California elementary school principal is being criticized because she posted a photo of a cut-up Nike T-shirt and complained about Nike featuring former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in its latest marketing campaign.

Nike's new ad campaign features Kaepernick with the words "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything."

Kaepernick's "sacrifice" is an apparent reference to the former NFL player's inability to get re-hired after voluntarily quitting the NFL.

The "believe in something," is an apparent reference to Kaepernick calling police officers murderers, and kneeling in protest to the American flag.

Elementary School principal Roni Burns-Ellis wrote on Facebook, “My newest rag! When Nike signs an anti-American thug to represent their brand, I will not support, wear, purchase or endorse their product. Bye-bye Nike.”

Some parents in the Los Alamitos Unified School District responded by creating a petition over the Facebook post.

The online petition “Los Alamitos Unified School Leaders – Please lead by example!” was started Tuesday and had 1,982 signatures as of 6:25 p.m. Sunday. The petition reads, in part: “We may disagree but we hope our Los Alamitos School leaders will always act civilly, treat each other with respect, and not engage in name calling. Our children view the teachers and principals as a beacon of moral character. We hope our school leaders will act responsibly and will walk with kindness as they lead our children with their actions.”

The petition also questioned the use of the word “thug” to describe Kaepernick.

The petition stated, “In the Webster's dictionary, ‘thug’ was the name given by the British in India in the 19th century to a member of a band of thieves and murderers.”

Burns-Ellis apologized Thursday afternoon. She said she never meant to offend anyone and was regretful that she used the word “thug.”

She also removed the post.

The school district’s superintendent released a statement.

"We need to always be conscientious about approaching differences in a respectful manner and about the use and impact of social media," Superintendent Sherry Kropp said, according to KABC-TV. "I understand that what someone writes publicly does reflect on us and can damage the good work we are doing. We care deeply about all students and want them to thrive in a diverse society."

“I agree with her. Everything she’s done. I mean Colin Kaepernick, he’s disrespected the military, disrespected this nation just by kneeling during the anthem. You don’t do that. That’s disrespectful,” said parent William Haughland, according to KABC.

Ellis said on her Facebook page that she is married to retired Long Beach Fire Department Chief Dave Ellis.

Blue Lives Matter has joined others in calling for a boycott of Nike.

“The choice of Colin Kaepernick by Nike to be 'the Face' of their 30th Anniversary Campaign is an affront to every American law enforcement officer," Blue Lives Matter's National Spokesman, Randy Sutton said.

"Nike’s pandering to Kaepernick’s brand of politically correct hate mongering against those who serve this Nation behind a badge and the disrespect he has sown to the symbols of love of our country reveals how corrupt Nike has become," Sutton added. "When an organization is more concerned with profits than with the values of justice and service that thousands have given their lives to preserve, they reveal what they truly stand for....greed and dishonor.”

good for her, she did this on her own time and in her own beliefs, others should not have the right to demand that she not have thoughts or beliefs of her own when off the clock. I'm going to write to her and tell her how much i commend her for what she did and hope she encourages others to do the same. Everyone of all countries have the right to express their opinions, especially regarding nike as they are, unfortunately, international.

I believe in America. I believe that she should be able to call out a company located in the liberal northwest for their provocative assertions that a football player sacrificed and I would expect anyone from Seal Beach, CA to call bullshit on him and them. I support her!

61mouse

Sep 10, 2018

Freedom of speech I guess only pretands to you if your black

FSchloss

Sep 10, 2018

I tend to agree with the Los Alamitos School District. I don't like the use of the word "Thug" either. I think asshole is much more appropriate.

Gumbydrum13

Sep 10, 2018

For every action theres a reaction! You cant be hypocritical and say she cant stand up and protest the protest. Its offensive to men and women of service. If you are going to allow Kaerpatricks action then you absolutely CANNOT tell her she cant stand up and say what shes said. Its a face to face contradiction. So either everyone states their opinion and each of the opposing can get over it and/or. Fire back both sides are excercising freedom of speech or everyone can shut the hell up!! Now my personal views is the servicemen and women deserve respect and it did disrespect them and our country no matter what you say it stands for. And for you to take that and be an asshole even tho they have legitimate standpoint to be offended and call folks racist for not supporting your "cause" is in itself as disgusting as the act of kneeling that was done. Hey boy that cried wolf. The black card is being overplayed. Theres red cards in the deck too you know. Theres 2 reasons you should ever be on your knees to pray to God and a woman to suck a d*** and you sir werent praying with all that hate in your heart so I guess that tells you what you should do next just like a woman!! Man up and stand up!!

Gumbydrum13

Sep 10, 2018

Ok well hmmm thug is offensive well it wasnt the "N" word so don't tell me that thug is gonna be copyrighted as racist. I mean all the rappers call themselves thugs we didnt start it! Lets all look at it like this they can take a knee to protest black men dying from white cops hmm if it was reversed you know how much fire we would come under. Exactly point #1 #2 how about we protest until all the dominant drug dealing and gang violence is stopped how would that go for you. Just saying... but when people stepping on your stuff oh no they cant take it or have it but they wanna manipulate the system and claim everything these days are racists just to get something out of it or have things go their way. I'm sick of it! I see it every day white folks get talked to crazy and treated differently just because they dont like us we are "racists" that sounds pretty racist to me! I honestly believe and its widely believed just ask around. It is being experienced everywhere. Black folks are racist against white folks. Its starting to seem like they dont want equal rights they want domination. Its sad. Martin Luther King is turning in his grave over this. Why can't we all get along. Is it constantly gonna be a blame game.... are you gonna try to always put out the fire with gasoline!??

Gumbydrum13

Sep 10, 2018

Kaerpernick**

Nighthawk644

Sep 10, 2018

Ohhhh its not???? and why is that legal genius? If she had badmouthed the POTUS that would have been fine to all in sunny CA.... "Kap" is NOT oppressed and hasn't sacrificed anything. NIKE will learn shortly......

Hi_estComnDenomn

Sep 10, 2018

I'm now convinced that no one on this site knows what the First Amendment says, let alone what it means.

EMarie

Sep 10, 2018

I'm proud of her!

TarnishedCopper

Sep 10, 2018

WE need more like her who aren't afraid to speak up when it is needed!! I salute her!

Wolfsoul

Sep 10, 2018

As a conservative educator myself, I am constantly harassed and patrolled by the liberal hell in CA. The word THUG in no way is a racist word. I wish Ms. Ellis had not taken down her post for it is exactly how they are taking away our freedom of speech. I was born in a communist country and this is exactly how they begin to control our every move. I myself, would NOT have taken post down nor apologized for THUG has MANY meanings....

GForce48

Sep 10, 2018

Kaepernick is a thug and has shown disrespect to our Nation, our Nation's heroes, and law enforcement officers across the country. I stand with Principal Burns-Ellis!

S. Beane

Sep 11, 2018

The fact is that the First Amendment only protects citizens from being restricted in their speech by the Federal, State and Local government. Individuals and private businesses legally can and do limit the speech of others for any number of reasons.

jakesj40

Sep 11, 2018

How many Black on Black murderers in Chicago has he condemned ? How many White or Hispanic Liberal women would be willing to walk through a minority neighborhood?

HH3

Sep 11, 2018

I stand with Principal Burns-Ellis. I just wish that she had not removed her post. Although I do understand why she did.

Now if she was to be speaking against POTUS or any conservative stand she would have been held high by those who are now upset.